Cornwall · Walks · Looe
Looe is split by its river and the walks either side of it are entirely different — east towards dramatic clifftops and Seaton, west above the Heritage Coast towards Polperro.
Photograph — Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Looe · South-East Cornwall
Looe is split by the river that shares its name: East Looe on the larger, busier eastern bank, and West Looe across the bridge, quieter and residential. The town functions as a walking junction — the Coast Path passes through from both directions, the Looe Valley Line trail runs inland along the river, and the ferry from the quay provides access to the beach and cliff walks on the east side without walking through the town. Looe Island, a mile offshore and visible from the cliff path above Hannafore, is accessible by boat in season and managed as a nature reserve by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
East of Looe the Coast Path climbs sharply above Plaidy Beach and heads for Seaton — a quieter sandy bay two miles out — before continuing to Downderry and the Rame Peninsula beyond. This eastern section is less visited than the Polperro side and the walking is consequently more solitary. The river trail inland from Looe to Liskeard is flat and peaceful, following the East Looe River through a valley that supports kingfishers, dippers, and grey wagtails throughout the year.
East from Looe the Coast Path climbs steeply above Plaidy Beach and follows the cliff to Seaton — a sandy bay at the mouth of the Seaton River, two miles from town. The clifftop section above Millendreath is dramatic, with views of Looe Island offshore throughout. Seaton has a good seasonal café and a stream that wades across the beach at low tide. Return via the inland lane through Hessenford for a five-mile circular.
Coastal cliff walking with offshore island views
The East Looe River valley trail follows the river north from Looe for eight miles to Liskeard alongside the Looe Valley Line railway. The path is level, sheltered, and excellent for birdwatching — dippers, grey wagtails, and kingfishers are reliable on the river throughout the year. The valley woodland is at its finest in spring and autumn. Return by train from Liskeard to Looe on the scenic branch line; the journey is worth doing for its own sake.
Flat river valley walking with a scenic branch-line train return
From West Looe, the path west along the Hannafore headland above Looe Island provides some of the finest views on the south Cornish coast — the island sits a mile offshore in clear water and is accessible by boat in season. The Coast Path west from Hannafore climbs above the Heritage Coast cliffs towards Polperro; a three-mile section to Talland Bay is excellent walking.
Looe Island views and the start of the Heritage Coast
Directly above West Looe, the Kilminorth Wood Local Nature Reserve covers 40 hectares of ancient oak woodland above the Looe River estuary. A network of paths through the reserve connects to the Looe Valley Line trail north and the river banks below. The Giant's Hedge — a prehistoric earthwork of mysterious purpose, running for miles across the landscape — passes through the reserve and is visible from the paths. Two miles of easy woodland paths for families.
Ancient woodland nature reserve and prehistoric earthwork
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